The pain of separation is felt only after falling in love. “Ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” — Kahlil Gibran.
1) Na Jaane Kyu Hota Hai Ye Zindagi Ke Saath (1975, Chhoti Si Baat, Lata, Yogesh, Salil Choudhary) — Lyrics in Hindi — A lovely, simple song. Some of my friends might remember a cassette of “Chhoti Si Baat” that played umpteen times in my car from 2001 — 2006.
2) Koi Yeh Kaise Bataaye Ke Wo Tanha Kyu Hai (1982, Arth, Jagjit Singh, Kaifi Azmi, Kuldeep Singh) — Lyrics in Hindi.
Anecdote: My 3-year old daughter was once in anguish, remembering an incident that happened over eight months earlier — one of her hairclips had fallen into the sink and got washed away! She repeatedly asked me, ‘Why did the hairclip go away, Tata?’ I had no answer except, ‘The hairclip had to go away, Simran!’
3) Ab Ke Baras Bhej Bhaiyya Ko Babul (Bandini, 1963, Asha Bhonsle, Shailendra Singh, S D Burman) — A moving song where a girl misses her childhood and her family. Painful lyrics, with beautiful singing and cinematography. Lyrics.
The cinematography reminds me of the Japanese director Yasujirō Ozu (1903 — 1963) whose black and white movies were characterized by very little camera movement. Also, the plainness of the jail setting was reminiscent of minimally decorated households shown in early Japanese movies.
4) Hamse Aaya Na Gaya — (1957, Dekh Kabira Roya, Talat, Rajinder Krishan, Madan Mohan) — Lyrics in Hindi.
A beautiful song with three stanzas on love, separation and death. I remember playing this song in mid-2006 amid great turmoil in my personal life.
5) Tum Itna Jo Muskura Rahe Ho, Kya Gham Hai Jisko Chhupa Rahe Ho (1982, Arth, Jagjit Singh, Kaifi Azmi, Jagjit Singh) — Lyrics in Hindi.
Beautiful lyrics — plain and simple. The first line reminds me of comedians — people who make others laugh — many of them draw their humor from personal pain. Read the biography of Kishore Kumar, for example.
6) Zindagi Ke Safar Mein Guzar Jaate Hain Jo Maqaam Wo Phir Nahi Aate (1974, Aap Ki Kasam, Kishore Kumar, Anand Bakshi, R D Burman) — Lyrics in Hindi.
7) Arey Dekhi Zamaane Ki Yaari, Bicchde Sabhi Bari Bari (1959, Kagaz Ke Phool, Rafi, Kaifi Azmi, S D Burman) — Lyrics in Hindi.
8) Khoyi Khoyi Yaadein (1999, composed for SaReGaMaPa 1999, Shreya Ghoshal, Nawab Aarzoo, Shantanu).
9) Tere Bina Zindagi Mein Shikwa (1975, Aandhi, Lata and Kishore, Gulzar, R D Burman) — Lyrics in Hindi — on reunion, with shades of bitterness and catharsis.
10) Tere Mere Milan Ki Ye Raina (1973, Abhimaan, Lata & Kishore, Majrooh Sultanpuri, S D Burman) — Lyrics in Hindi. A beautiful song commemorating the reunion of a couple after forgiveness.
Those all good old days song I love them all
Thanks